The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees Office of Research (UCF) was awarded a $427,964 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to host a 10-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site focused on novel materials for energy applications. The program will provide substantive research experiences for 10 undergraduate students in areas such as catalysis, photovoltaics, quantum materials, and computational modeling related to energy technologies. It aims to recruit and train a diverse group of students, including those from underrepresented minority groups and institutions with limited research opportunities, to transition to graduate school or industry careers. The program includes coursework, research projects, workshops, and site visits to expose participants to cutting-edge research and professional development. No subawards are planned under this award. The project period runs from April 2024 through March 2027.